Bill
Bill > HB156
summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Authorizing unaffiliated voters to request to affiliate with a political party at an early voting center during a primary election and vote a provisional ballot for the voter's preferred political party; and requiring an election judge to determine whether the voter resides in the county in which the voter seeks to vote.
AI Summary
This bill allows voters who have declined to affiliate with a political party, meaning they are registered as unaffiliated, to change their affiliation to a political party during early voting before a primary election. Previously, party affiliation changes generally could not be processed when voter registration was closed, which is typically the period leading up to an election. This bill creates an exception, permitting unaffiliated voters to affiliate with a party at an early voting center, and if they reside in the county, they will receive a voter authority card and a provisional ballot for their chosen party. This change also expands the conditions under which a provisional ballot can be cast and later deemed valid, specifically to include unaffiliated voters who affiliate with a party during early voting before a primary election.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
House Government, Labor, and Elections Hearing (14:00:00 2/4/2026 ) (on 02/04/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0156?ys=2026RS |
| BillText | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0156f.pdf |
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